A Corpus Christi animal hospital wanted to help the police
department, so they donated $3,000 for equipment. Here's what they got.
Alexandria Rodriguez, Corpus Christi Caller-Times

(Photo: Alexandria Rodriguez/Corpus Christi Caller-Times)

Nancy Deviney is a history buff. In fact, it's her job.

But
Deviney, executive director of the Texas Tropical Trail Region of the
Texas Historical Commission, didn't expect to be an important part of
Corpus Christi's history.

It all started with a
phone call to Celeste Hogan, a volunteer with the Corpus Christi Police
Department. Deviney wanted Hogan to speak at a commission event.

"I
mentioned I had a relative that worked at the Corpus Christi Police
Department," Deviney said. "Then she told me he was a former chief of
police and asked if I could help fill in any blanks."

The
badge of Corpus Christi Police Chief James Shaw was given to the
department's developing museum by Shaw's granddaughter on Monday, Oct.
15, 2018. Shaw was police chief in the late 1920s. (Photo: Alexandria Rodriguez/Corpus Christi Caller-Times)

That former chief of police was her grandfather, James B. Shaw. He served as police chief from 1924 to 1931, she said.

During Shaw's time as police chief, the city had 12 police officers, according to the yearbook.

"At
one time the Corpus Christi Police Force numbered 16 men, but the
police have cleaned up the city, making it unnecessary to employ more
than the present force," the yearbook read. "Chief Shaw enforces the
liquor and gambling laws, he keeps the speeders within bounds and finds
time to assist government officers in the performance duties."

With
the help of Deviney and her sister, Melissa Williams, the department
was able to see Shaw's face for the first time in a Texas police
officers' yearbook from the 1920s. Deviney and Williams also donated a
sword from his time at Texas A&M University, his badge and the book.

Nancy
Deviney, granddaughter of former Corpus Christi Chief of Police James
Shaw, holds Shaw's sword at the department Monday, Oct. 15, 2018.
Deviney donated Shaw's badge and a yearbook from the 1920s, when he was
chief. (Photo: Alexandria Rodriguez/Corpus Christi Caller-Times)

Those
items will be added to the department's museum, which is in the works,
Chief Mike Markle said. So far the museum has badges, photos and
equipment of former police officers.

"This has been
a big endeavor for us. There's a blanks that need to be filled in," he
said. "Corpus Christi is rich in history. We need to capture as much of
that as we can."

Markle also gave Deviney two department challenge coins. One was a coin in honor of fallen police officers.

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